The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-03-17

would be the assertion OF the rlSht ol
Texas to Greer county.
Pending motion to adjourn Mr.. Nc
Gaughey got leave to introduce bill,
one of the most important of the session,
entitled: San act to perfect the Organiza-
ton of the University of Texas and its
branches; to give to the University re
gents control of said branches and of the
lands; to appropriate the scrap lands
in the organized counties to the COM
mon school, and to repeal all
laws and parts of laws in conflict with the
provisions of this act, and to settle all
conflicting interests
As a condition precedent to the &C
ceptance of the eDdowments bestowed by
this act upon the several branches, it is
hereby provided that said branches shall
hereafter have no further claim upon the
University funds or lands.
House adjourned till $50 Tuesday
morning.
TUESDAYS PROCEEDINGS.
The house was called to order by the
speaker. Prayer by Rev. DR.. Wright.
A motion to reconsider house bill 1914,
amending article 683 of the penal code,
relative to Offenses against property, was
adopted. The bill has been engrossed.
number of petitions on varions old
subjects were presented and referred.
Mr.. FaubiOn presented house bill 1884,
authorizing the penitentiary board to
manufacture or purchase cars to transport
supplies for the penitentiaries, and all
manufactures or products of convict
labor; to make an appropriation there
for, and to require railroad COM
panies in this state to haul the
cars provided for in the act, and
to provide a penalty for its violation.
The appropriation is left blank. The |
penalty against railroads is fine Of
from $500 to $1,000.
By Ms. Prendergast-House bill No.
595, amending article 352 of the penal
code, as to the mode of filling vacancies
in the office of mayor or alderman.
The city council is to order new cleo
lions, and in all special elections ten days,
notice shall be deemed sufficient. In case
of vacancy of any other office in the city
than mayor or alderman, by refusal TO ac-
cep5 or failure to qualify, or by death,
or otherwise, the mayor shall
fill such vacancy by ap ointment to be
confirmed by the city council.
The house concurred in senate amend
ments TO house bill No. 80, amending the
,'ock law as amended by the acts of April
[, 1881, and April II, 1888. The bill ex-
,mp pts numerous counties from inspection
If stock.
House bill No. 202, amending the law
or the better protection of public bridges
passed.
Also house bill No. 548, amending arti-
lie 1888 of the statutes so as to require re-
lords of deeds, etc, to be kept
II both counties where one comfy is at
a,hed to another for Judicial proposes.
Senate bill requiring railroads to make
openings and fence crossings along their
light of way passed to third reading.
Senate bill No. II, providing for the
ale of scrap lands of less than GAO acres,
vas discussed.
Amendment reducing the quantity to
;20 acres or less was concurred in.
Pending further amendments the hour
or the special order, the general land
ills of the senate and the house, arrived,
he pending question being the substitu
ion of the house bill for the senate bill.
Both bills vest in the land commissioner
he power to sell and lease the lands.
The senate bill provides for agents to
classify and value the lands, and subjecVs
he lands to sale, but to actual settlers
only, and in quantities of not less than
L6O acres and in multiples thereof, nor
more than GAO acres, except that fraction
If section may he sold. An actual set
Ter may buy not over four sections pas
;ure lands. In no event shall a sale be
made to corporation either foreign or
domestic. Sale by an actual settler to a
is to work forfeiture of the
and to the state. Leases are to be made
for not more than five years, at not less
than four cents an acre, payable each year
in advance. The price for dry lands is
not less than 81; watered lands not less
than So, and timbered lands not less tn an
So per acre. Any bona fide settler owning
one section and no more, prior to this
act, shall have the ri ht TO purchase three
dry pastoral sections.
The house bill fixed the prices alb
solutely at 81 an acre per day, So for
watered and So for timLered lands. A |
head of family, or person 81 years of
age, may purchase not less than 100 acres,
nor more than $40 acres, unless in cases
of fractions of sections and sections larger
than GAO acres. Leases shall not be for
less than five years, at fixed price of
four cents for pasture lands, payable in
advance.
Mr.. Tate spoke in favor of the house
bill, and Messrs. Showalter and Nc
Gaughey against it and in favor of the |
senate bill.
Mr.. Tate commended that if the legisla-
ture wanted to turn these lands over to
the cattle barons in perpetuity they
should adopt the senate bill, and that |
under its actual settler clause the cattle |
men could hold all the land they needed. |
Mr.. Showalter argued that under the |
house bill the lands would be neither
leased nor sold. A man would get GAO |
acres and turn out thousand head of cat
tie all around it, 1t was free grass bill,
and not enough land would be leased |
uuder the bill to pay for the Appropriation
of $4,000 proposed to cover expenses.
Mr.. McGaughey did not believe that the
state wanted to Cypress and limit the peo
pie IN the western part of the state to one
section of land. The people there could
not subsist their families on a single sec
ton, so he favored the senate bill.
Pending discussion, the house adjourned
till o'clock
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The house this afternoon resumed con-
sideration of the land bills.
Mr.. Browning spoke IN favor of the
lnnEn koE Aho